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Out and about with Hans Kammerlander

A mountaineering legend up close and personal

As my host Sepp told me, he has had a close friendship with the former extreme mountaineer Hans for over 30 years. Nice to see the Valle Aurina people get along so well. Hans Kammerlander often visits the Alte Mühle or escorts our guests on various hikes.

Countless first ascents in the Alps and many tours in the mountains of Asia and South America. Twelve of them were eight-thousand-metre peaks, seven of which he climbed together with Reinhold Messner. His enthusiasm for mountaineering began when he was eight years old here in the tranquil Valle Aurina, when eight-year-old Hans secretly followed a couple of tourists on their way to the Picco Palù. Hans Kammerlander himself tells us all this over a coffee in the Alte Mühle.

As the landlord Sepp joins us, they recount their joint tour in Nepal. What a thrill to set off on a hike with these two entertaining South Tyroleans. Today, we head off to a rustic alpine hut with views of the Gruppo Vedrette di Ries and Gruppo di Dura mountain ranges. We have a pressed dumpling party there. They often also prepare traditional melchamus (kind of a milk mousse prepared with milk, flour and melted butter) or mysterious "hut magic" – according to their mood the two of them say. I am happy to be given practical hiking tips today and to listen to the colourful stories of Hans.